Auction stealer warning

[Paul-H]

Hi guys

This a warning for anyone using or thinking of using the Auction Stealer Snipping service.

I used it today and after entering the auction number it asked for my highest bid in USD which I did and in this case I bid $375 USD As my maximum, but when the auction ended it had placed my bid at £375 UKP, so I ended up winning with a high bid of £327 which is a lot more than I wanted to pay a more than I could buy the item for new, it was a Pelikan M1000 I was bidding on, and they are £310 new. So now I have a seller wanting me to pay the final price and there being no way am I going to do that.

Just watch out if you are using Auction Stealer.

Paul

[jar]

But you bid that.

Why shouldn't you pay it?

[tandaina]

The sniping service is NOT bidding in dollars, it is plugging NUMBERS into a box. You told it to bid up to 375. It has no way of knowing the auction isn't in US funds. Sorry to say this I an expensive user error issue.

[Paul-H]

Wrong the site clearly showed I was bidding in USD, I will post a screen capture that's shows this.

As you can see it clearly shows USD and not just a number

image.jpg

[Flounder]

Well, that's confusing. I generally don't bother with these sniper dodads. I just go by my wristwatch if putting in a late bid.

[tandaina]

Sorry, I used to be in software. What I'm saying is that $ sign is just a symbol. What they aren't telling you is that they don't have an API to eBay that lets them know if the auction is foreign. And what eSnipe or Auction Stealer, etc does is actually plug a number into the bid box on eBay and presses the necessary buttons, etc. (Essentially). I'm saying that no matter what their site shows, they aren't tightly coupled enough with eBay (eBay doesn't want them to be, they don't want you sniping they want you doing it manually and getting into the heat of the moment and raising your bid over and over) to be able to make the translation you want them to make.

If you tell them go to 375 that to them IS just a number. Now, you MIGHT be able to take the SNIPING service to court for failure to provide the service they advertise, but I'm guessing somewhere in their fine print they likely say that this service is not intended for foreign currency auctions and to use at your own risk. I'd be surprised if they didn't. Remember, all these sites are by nature a little shady. They want your money, they don't give a hoot if you get messed up in the process.

Your issue is with the sniping service, not eBay. eBay can force you to pay. Your recourse would be to show the sniping service their own screen shot and then the ACTUAL won auction, and then hope to heck they don't have a "don't use with foreign currency auctions" disclaimer. Sorry.

[jar]

You need to be aware of what currency the auction is using and make sure you adjust your bids. That is YOUR responsibility.

This is a relatively cheap lesson though.

[Laura N]

I have to agree with the others. Bidders probably are deemed to know what they are bidding on, including the currency. But clearly you made a mistake here. I'd take that approach, rather than blaming your sniping service. Maybe apologize to the seller profusely and tell him you didn't realize your bid was entered in pounds instead of dollars. One can hope he'll be a nice guy, and then you can give him wonderful feedback.

[Paul-H]

If you look at the first figure in the screen grab above it shows 153.25 that is the dollerc conversion of the £99 that the auction was at when I entered my bid, so they knew full well what they where showing.

I have been using auction stealer for years and never had this happen before.

I was just trying to warn forum members that something was not working right, that's all, shan't bother again though.

Bye

[mmahany]

I think you have a valid dispute, but it has nothing to do with the seller. You are obligated to pay him/her. They have done nothing wrong.
Your dispute should be with “Auction Stealer.” Judging by the screen shot, you are paying them for a service that has not performed properly. There is an obligation on their part to fulfill the promises on their website.

At this point, you should pay the seller for the pen. You may consider telling them that you made a mistake and accidentally entered your max bid in U.S. dollars (which is true). Offer to pay for their listing or send them a tiny bit of money for the trouble.

I would then take the issue up with Auction Stealer. Ask them for a refund or for free months of use. They aren’t required to compensate you for your damages, but they are required to deliver a properly working service that you pay for.

Short answer: this isn’t the seller’s fault. Try and reach a friendly agreement, but if you can’t you need to pay for the pen. Take your beef up with the software company and remind them that you’ve been using their service for years.

This is the equivalent of waiting until the last minute to do an online test for school, and then having your internet fail. It’s not the professor’s fault that your internet failed, it’s yours.

[I like mango pudding]

yeah, I think you are hooped with regards to the final price you have to pay. You have to take it up with the sniping site, not the ebay seller. I manually snipe myself. I still get that thrill at the last few seconds. I love the rush. Sniping sites just spoil the fun in all that.

[Marsilius]

I would like to think that if presented as a seller with your evidence, I would be understanding and not hold you to the sale, on the grounds that it would somehow be good business sense and ethics. Maybe the auction thing is not quite the same as buying in a store, but it still seems like grounds for granting a request as a courtesy (though of course entirely up to the seller).

Also, in your shoes, I would be hopping up and down mad, because it sure looks like a mess up.

Finally, I never did figure out sniping much anyway. If I put my highest willing price, someone will either bid higher or not. On those few times the adrenaline got going, I usually bid too high anyway. But it is a good thing I am NOT in business, because I would sink in a skinny minute.

Good luck!

[79spitfire]

I agree you need to settle up with the seller, your problem is the sniper software. Thank you for letting us know the software has a bug in it and improperly calculates bids when set to US dollars.

Having said that, I can't help but feel a bit of evil pleasure. I've lost huge numbers of pens by being sniped by $1-2 after bidding reasonable amounts for them, and the auction history showing 2 bidders, the sniper and I.

Enjoy your new pen!

[velo]

yeah, I think you are hooped with regards to the final price you have to pay. You have to take it up with the sniping site, not the ebay seller. I manually snipe myself. I still get that thrill at the last few seconds. I love the rush. Sniping sites just spoil the fun in all that.

I agree you need to settle up with the seller, your problem is the sniper software. Thank you for letting us know the software has a bug in it and improperly calculates bids when set to US dollars.

Having said that, I can't help but feel a bit of evil pleasure. I've lost huge numbers of pens by being sniped by $1-2 after bidding reasonable amounts for them, and the auction history showing 2 bidders, the sniper and I.

Enjoy your new pen!

True that.

[drgoretex]

So now I have a seller wanting me to pay the final price and there being no way am I going to do that.

Sorry, but feeling a bit sympathy-challenged here. Not only do I agree with 79 Spitfire on how irritating snipers are when you are doing some legitimate bidding, but worse, you did bid the amount you bid. How is it reasonable to say that you have no intention of paying it? This is just the kind of attitude that makes it difficult and unpleasant to be an eBay seller.

Ken

[david i]

So now I have a seller wanting me to pay the final price and there being no way am I going to do that.

Sorry, but feeling a bit sympathy-challenged here. Not only do I agree with 79 Spitfire on how irritating snipers are when you are doing some legitimate bidding, but worse, you did bid the amount you bid. How is it reasonable to say that you have no intention of paying it? This is just the kind of attitude that makes it difficult and unpleasant to be an eBay seller.

Ken

Contrasting "Sniper" with "Legitimate Bidding" of course represents a deep misunderstanding of the auction process.

However, it is quite true the bidder has obligation to pay the seller in this case.

regards

david

[david i]

I agree you need to settle up with the seller, your problem is the sniper software. Thank you for letting us know the software has a bug in it and improperly calculates bids when set to US dollars.

Having said that, I can't help but feel a bit of evil pleasure. I've lost huge numbers of pens by being sniped by $1-2 after bidding reasonable amounts for them, and the auction history showing 2 bidders, the sniper and I.

Enjoy your new pen!

Actually, generally you don't know how much the higher bidder bid, in auctions you lost to a more aggressive bidder.

regards

david

[Ernst Bitterman]

I will certainly continue my policy of not using sniper services after seeing this, so I honestly thank the OP for confirming my notions. I think he is probably firmly on the hook regarding paying the seller, though, as join in urging him to reserve his venom for the service (eBay is blameworthy in many things, but in this I think they're clear).

[Tony Rex]

I was just trying to warn forum members that something was not working right, that's all, shan't bother again though.

Bye

Don't be like that mate. We know you've got a case against the snipping 'service provider', but you forgot that lots of people lost on really high bids, thus the non symphaty comments above. And I do think it's unfair to the seller and the second highest bidder (which was the first and second last bidder!) if you don't pay. Because if you could get away.. you'd get a new pen, he gets a used pen for 310 GBP and an unwanted roller coaster ride. Yeah?

I second guys above in thanking you for the warning, and don't worry about it.

Tony

[CS388]

Paul-H: Don't be uncool about it. Yes, do bother to warn us again - it's useful for us all to know. Thanks

Re. the case in point. Yes, looks like you were shafted by the sniping service small print. I have no knowledge of how software works, but Tandaina's explanation (above) seems valid. One for us all to keep our eyes on. It's a shame that you had to fall foul of it, in order for us to learn.

Have you contacted the seller and explained (including your screen shot)? I'd hope they'd understand and you can both negotiate an agreeable conclusion?
Have you contacted the sniping service?

Fingers crossed.